Fuerte Bellevista

Entrance is on Calle 17 between Av Central
San José
San José
Costa Rica

Type: Historical Interest
Addmission Fee: $45 for adults, children under age 10, free.
Hours: Open Tuesday through Sunday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

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Due south from the park, across Av Central, is the Plaza de la Democracia and the Museo Nacional , housed in the historic old Fuerte Bellevista. Only in peace-loving Costa Rica would they name a military installation “Fort With a Beautiful View.” The Plaza has a good flea market daily, but it is especially big on weekends. The old yellow Castilian fort was constructed in 1887 and used as the nation’s military headquarters until the abolition of the armed forces in 1948. Notice the side walls and look up at the balustrades to see all the gun shot holes around the gun slits, evidence of the serious nature of the 1948 Civil War. The museum has four sections in salas, or large rooms. The first features archeological artifacts from Costa Rica’s pre-Columbian peoples and their history (most explanations are in Spanish). Precious gold figures and jewelry are housed in a separate Sala de Oro. Another section of colonial life features artifacts and displays of the first Spanish conquistadors and early mestizos. Historic photos and implements from the recent past are featured in the last area. A stroll around the fort’s interior, towers and old jail shows the conditions faced by turnof- the-century soldiers. Located in the central courtyard you’ll find a good example of the traditional brightly painted oxcarts (carretas), as well as several varied-size, mysterious stone spheres – made by a long-forgotten people in the southern zone. Entrance is on Calle 17 between Av Central and Av 2. Open Tuesday through Sunday, 8:30 am-4:30 pm; $45 for adults, children under age 10, free. Hungry? Nearby is the restaurant, Ay Sofya, on Av Central & Calle 21.